Chickens Slaughtered - Advice Finding Friends for Lone Survivor

[nightowlmama]

Hello! We are very new to the world of chickens. We had five that we hatched from our incubator this year and they were about 3 months old - 4 ISA Brown & 1 rooster. We let them out of the run to roam on our fenced in acre when we are home only. Last week a fox got into our high gate in broad daylight while we were home and killed all but one before we could get outside. So I have 1 ISA Brown pullet left and want to get four more.

So my questions are... Where are the best places to look? Any advice on what to look for and what to watch out for? I've never done this before and I want good, healthy pullets that will be good egg-layers and get along with our sweet Henrietta. I looked on craigslist and most people are selling hens and roosters for food but one person had a bunch of ISA Brown pullets for sale.

 

[sourland]

Here in NJ the local 4 H fairs are being held, and they sell started pullets at these fairs. Perhaps the same thing happens where you are located. Try to contact your local 4 H group and see if they take part in this practice. Good luck.

 

[lena_]

I'm sorry that you lost your birds, hopefully you can find some more soon. Best wishes.

 

[sylviethecochin]

If you do decide to go with the craigslist option, visit, have a look at their facilities (cleanliness, etc--Don't expect a chicken-raising operation to smell like a coop with five chickens, but make sure it's clean and not horribly crowded.)

Ask if they've given medications, if so, why. That's a guide to what to look out for yourself, and also a guide to what might be a problem in your area. Respiratory problems would be a big one to check for, as it's nearly impossible to get rid of them, and it would be a deal-breaker to me. I'd also want to know if they have or have had in the past any problems with mites or lice (that wouldn't be a deal-breaker, for me. Most populations of chickens have some lice running around. But a warning so that you can get Permethrin spray is good.)

 

[Shadrach]

The fox will probably be back! If this fox is hunting in the daytime I wouldn't get any more chickens and let them free range. Foxes are particularly difficult to deal with because unlike other predators, they kill everything they can catch. With hawks, weasels etc, they will kill to eat but only one at a time.
My view is don't get any more chickens until you've dealt with the fox, or build a large secure run for any chickens you get.

 

[Stepnout]

Sorry for your loss, a very hard lesson to learn.
Here where I live our local feed stores and farm cooperatives bring in pol pullets every few months. They usually do this on a pre order basis. They also run a list for unclaimed birds. Call your feed stores and cooperatives. I also agree the fox will be back. It is up to you to protect your flock as best as you can. I love the concept of free range I have 3 acres, sadly I could would never be able to Proto my girls with out a chicken tractor and locking them in at night.
Raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes, weasels, hawks and owls have eyes on my chickens

 

[nightowlmama]

Yes, we live in a very wooded neighborhood with big lots and at one time there were two fox dens in the neighboring cut de sacs. We have the Eglu Go chicken coop and it has a protective wire skirt around the run. So our chickens have been safe for months as long as they are in there. Now we only let the chicken out if we are in the yard. I'm going to have to get a bigger run because I hate having her cooped up. Thank you for all the advice and condolences!

 

[Stepnout]

Yes, we live in a very wooded neighborhood with big lots and at one time there were two fox dens in the neighboring cut de sacs. We have the Eglu Go chicken coop and it has a protective wire skirt around the run. So our chickens have been safe for months as long as they are in there. Now we only let the chicken out if we are in the yard. I'm going to have to get a bigger run because I hate having her cooped up. Thank you for all the advice and condolences!

You can build an extension on wheels like I have. Here is a picture. I made mine 8 foot by 10. I put it up on the wheels move it to new grass every 2 days for 6 hens. They love it. While the pen is up on the wheels I push my Eglu Cube 3 meter run skirt under the frame of the pen. I then drop the pen on the skirt.